I watched part of the Health Care debate last Sunday night when I traveled to Worthington to stay at my parents the night before my Aunt Ellen’s funeral. I could see and appreciate the joy the Democrats expressed during the debate. Some of them have dedicated their lives to reforming Health Care. Their efforts seem to have died when Scott Brown was elected as Senator as Massachusetts. Somehow they rallied and figured out a way to get the bill passed.
I can also appreciate the fury of the Republicans. Their constituencies aren’t served by the Health Care bill.
I haven’t followed the debate that closely, so I can’t tell you my opinion on every part of the bill. I am glad that the bill is supposed to reduce the deficit, that it will increase the number of people insured (especially the poor), and it stops insurance companies from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions.
I have concerns about the expansion of Federal government into individual’s lives and whether the taxes can really pay for the bill.
It doesn’t bother me if you disagree with my views or whether you support or don’t support the new Health care bill.
It does bother me deeply when anyone resorts to violence or hate speech when responding to the bill’s passage.
The reports of violence that have surfaced are deeply disturbing. According to the Washington Post ten Democrats have reported death threats, vandalism or incidents of harassment at their district offices over the past week.
Over the past 24 hours, thrown bricks shattered the glass doors and windows of party headquarters in Rochester, N.Y. and Cincinnati.
A propane gas line at the Charlottesville home of Rep. Tom Perriello's brother was severed Tuesday after a self-identified "tea party" activist posted what he believed to be the Virginia Democrat's address on a Web site and urged opponents to "drop by" to convey their opposition to his yes vote on the health bill.
I’m grateful that Republican leaders are condemning this violence.
"I know many Americans are angry over this health-care bill, and that Washington Democrats just aren't listening," John Boehner (House Minority Leader) told Fox News Channel. "But, as I've said, violence and threats are unacceptable. That's not the American way. We need to take that anger and channel it into positive change. Call your congressman, go out and register people to vote, go volunteer on a political campaign, make your voice heard -- but let's do it the right way."
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele told Fox News that Republicans have the right to be angry over the Democrat's health care bill, but "resorting to violent measures is exactly the wrong way to send a message."
No matter how deep our passion, violence and hate-speech are not the American way.
1 comment:
Since their inception the Teaparty crowd (not a movement since they do have the numbers or clout) have been “haters not debaters”. In my opinion this is what the small portions of the republican party of “birthers, baggers and blowhards” have brought you. They are good at “Follow the Leader” of their dullard leaders, they listen to Beck, Hedgecock, Hannity, O’Reilly, Rush and Savage and the rest of the Blowhards. Are you surprise at what they do when you know what they think? The world is complicated and most republicans (Hamiliton, Lincoln, Roosevelt) believe that we should use government a little to increase social mobility, now its about dancing around the claim of government is the problem. The sainted Reagan passed the biggest tax increase in American history and as a result federal employment increased, but facts are lost when mired in mysticism and superstition. Although some republicans are trying to distant themselves from this fringe most of them are just going along and fanning the flames.
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